# US lawmakers urge federal hate crime probe into Aurora plot > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/foiled-hindu-temple-attack-plot-in-illinois > Updated: 2026-10-21T00:09:38.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 3. A 19-year-old suspect, identifying as a ‘white supremacist neo-Nazi’, was arrested in Aurora, Illinois, after a planned mass shooting at the Sri Venkateswara Temple was thwarted when his rifle jammed. The suspect, identified as Alexandros Paporakis, faces charges including making terrorist threats and illegal possession of weapons. Court documents reveal Paporakis allegedly attempted to attack the temple with an AR-15 and 300 rounds of ammunition, firing one shot at a passerby before his weapon jammed. Investigators recovered a rifle, ammunition, body armor, and white supremacist imagery at the scene. In an eight-page manifesto, he reportedly described Indians, Jews, and Black people as ‘sub human’ and stated he targeted the temple to ‘destroy’ something for pleasure. Following the arrest, India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the incident, describing the conspiracy as “extremely concerning” and noting it reflects rising racial hatred and anti-India sentiment in the United States. The Indian government has also requested that Washington ensure the safety of Indian nationals in the U.S. A bipartisan group of 105 US lawmakers, led by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi—who was at the temple with his family during the incident—has formally called on the FBI and the Department of Justice to investigate the attack as a potential federal hate crime. In a letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel, lawmakers emphasized the need to determine if racial and religious hatred motivated the suspect and if others were involved in the planning. Lawmakers cited a 240 percent increase in anti-South Asian hate posts on the social media platform X between January 2024 and June 2026 as evidence of growing online hostility translating into real-world violence. ## Claims - The House India Caucus requested the DOJ and FBI investigate the Aurora temple incident as a potential federal hate crime. (corroborated by 4 sources) - 105 US lawmakers requested an FBI investigation into the Illinois temple incident. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The alleged attack occurred on October 11 at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, Illinois. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Alexandros Paporakis, 19, is the suspect in the attempted shooting. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The suspect allegedly prepared an eight-page white supremacist manifesto. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Investigators recovered a rifle, ammunition, body armor, and white supremacist imagery. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Paporakis has been charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The suspect's firearm jammed after firing one shot at a passerby. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Anti-South Asian hate posts on X increased by approximately 240 percent between January 2024 and June 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The 19-year-old suspect wrote an eight-page manifesto describing minorities as sub-human. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The suspect was in possession of 300 rounds of ammunition during the incident. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-21: US Lawmakers urge FBI probe into Illinois Hindu temple attack attempt 105 US lawmakers have requested an FBI investigation into an attempted mass shooting at an Illinois Hindu temple, citing potential federal hate crimes and white supremacist motivations. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-lawmakers-urge-fbi-probe-into-illinois-hindu-temple-attack ### 2026-10-16: US lawmakers urge federal hate crime probe into Aurora temple shooting plot US lawmakers urge a federal hate crime probe after a 19-year-old allegedly attempted a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, citing rising anti-South Asian sentiment. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-lawmakers-urge-fbi-probe-into-foiled-hindu-temple-attack-plot ### 2026-10-15: India condemns foiled neo-Nazi plot against Hindu temple in Illinois India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned a foiled neo-Nazi plot to attack a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, calling for a thorough investigation into rising racial hatred. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/india-condemns-foiled-neo-nazi-plot-against-hindu-temple-in-illinois --- Cite as: US lawmakers urge federal hate crime probe into Aurora plot. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/foiled-hindu-temple-attack-plot-in-illinois